The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-08-11

uHulloay hallooed Sir Henry from tho
other boat, tour friend tho caravan leader
has been as good as his word, and set tho
Nasal after U.S. Do you think ii will DO safc
10 60 ashorcP
did not think 1t would DO ut oil safe; but,
OH tho other hand, wo had no means of cook
ing In tho canoes, md nothing that we could
eat raw. so ii was difficult to know what to
do At last Umslopogaas simplifled matters
by volunteering TO 60 and reconnoiter, which
hc did, creeping Off into the bush like snake,
while wo hung of in tho stream waiting for
him. In half an hour hc returned and told
us that there was not Nasal to DO seen any
where about but that lie had discovered n
spot where they had recently been encamped,
and that from various indications no judged
that they must havo moved OH an hour or 80
before, tho man wo saw having, no doubt,
been left to report upon our movements.
Thereupon wo landed, and having posted a
sentry, proceeded TO cook and eat our oven
ing meal. This done, wo took tho situation
into our serious consideration. or course, it
was possible that the apparition OF tho Nasal
warrior had nothing to do with us, that he
was merely one of q band bent upon some
marauding and numbering expedition against
| another tribe. Our friend tho consul had
told us that such expeditions were about.
But when we recalled tho threat of tho
caravan leader and reflected on tho ominous
way in which tho warrior had shaken his
spear at us, this did not appear very prob
able. On tho contrary, what did seem prob
ablo was that tho party was after us, and
awaiting q favorable opportunity to attack
u.s. This being so, there were two things
that wc could do, ono Of which was to go on,
and tho other TO go back. Tho latter idea
was, however, rejected at once, it being
obvious that wo should encounter as many
dangers in retreat US in advance, and, be-
sides, wc had made up our minds to journey
onward at any price. Under these circum-
stances, however, wo did not consider it safe
| to sleep ashore, so we got into our canoes,
and padding out into tho middle Of the
stream which was not very wide here, man.
aged to anchor them by means of big stones
fastened to ropes mado Of cocoanut fiber. Of
which there wero several fathoms in each
| canoe.
Here the mosquitoes nearly alto us up alive,
and this combined with anxiety rs to our
position, eiFectually preventedmc from sleep
ing as tho others were doing, and somehow,
In tho most unaccountable way, had sud-
denly become nervous. There was 10 par-
tcular reason why should be, beyond tho
ordinary reasons which surround the Central
African traveller, and yet undoubtedly was.
II there is one thing moro than another of
| which have the most complete and entire
,corn and disbelief, it is of presentiment;,
and yet here was all Of sudden filled with
and possessed by most undoubted PRESENT.
ment of approaching evil. would not give
way to It, however, although felt tho cold
perspiration stand out upon my forehead
In the distance | heard hippopotamus
splash family, then the owl booted again in q
kind of unnatural screaming note, and the
wind began to moan plaintively through the
trees, making heart chilling music. Above
was tho black bosom Of the cloud, and
beneath me swept the black flood Of the
water, and felt us though and death were
utterly alone between them. 1t WINS very
desolate.
Suddenly my blood seemed to freeze in my
veins and my heart 10 stand still Was it
fancy, or wero we movingl / turned my
ewes TO look for the other canoe, which should
be alongside of u.s. could not see it, but in
stead / saw lean and clutching black hand
lifting itself above the gunwale of the little
| WV
same time dim but devilsh locking face APP
reared to rise out of the water, nnd then
came n lurch of tho canoe, quick fash of n
knife and an awful yell from the Waiwaii
who was sleeping by my side the same poor
fellow whose odor had been annoying mel,
and something warm spurtcd into my !acc
In an instant the spell was broken lncw
that it was no nightmare, but that we were
attacked by swimming Nasal Snatehing ut
the first weapon which came to hand, Wfich
happened to be Umslopogaas' battlta%, |
struck with all my force i'll the direction IN
which had seen the fash of the knife. IEc
blow fell upon mans arm, and, itching 10
against the thicl, wooden gunwale OF tho
canoe, completely severed it from tho body
iust above the wrist AS for its owner, he ut
tered no sound or cry. Like ghost he came,
and like a ghost he went, leaving behind him
q bloody hand still gripping great knife, or
rather short sword, that was buried IN the
heart of our poor servant.
Instantly there arose n hubbub and confu-
sion, and fancied, rightly or wrongly, that
made out several dark heads gliding away
toward tho right hand bank, whittier we
wero rapidly drifting, for the rope by which
VIC had been moored had been severed with a
knife. As soon as | had realized this fact, 1
also realized that the scheme had been to cut
the boat loose. so that it should drift on to
the right bank las it would have done with
the natural swing of the CURRENT, where no
doubt party of Nasal were waiting to dig
their shovel headed spears into US. Selling
one paddle myself, told Umsloposaas to takc
another for tho remaining Askari was too
frightened and bewildered to DO of any use),
and together VIC rowcd vigorously out toward
tho middle OF the stream; and not an instant
too soon, for in another minnie we should
havo been aground, and then there would